@denzeru said “ ❛ i’m sorry. ❜ it was the first thing that he thought to say, & a part of him wished he had taken him up on the offer to carry cait sith, so he’d have something to hide behind. ❛ she protected me, & i just-. ❜ his lip trembled, his heart aching for the mother figure they’d shared. ❛ i really wish i could have protected her, too. ❜ “
This had not been the first time they’d met, but it had been the first time Reeve had taken a moment to explain himself clearly — to thank the boy that had taken his place and cared for a mother he should have been there for. He’d arrived at 7th Heaven to visit old friends, but upon seeing Denzel decided there were more pressing matters at hand.
And so they walked, and Reeve explained himself, the boy beside him listening patiently, but even with those educated topside manners he could feel the boy slowly curling into himself, wanting to hide — needing to hide... and he understood. Even as a man he had felt that way when he learned of his mother’s death, years of experience and maturity stripped away until he was a little boy again longing for his parents in a world that was barely hanging on by a thread.
Hazel eyes caught the tremor in his companion’s jaw and it caused him to draw up short, catching Denzel gently by the arm and stopping him as well with a gentle tug for the boy to look at him.
“—Hey,” he spoke softly, crouching down onto the balls of his feet to catch the other’s gaze with a small squeeze of that arm. “You did,” he stated matter-of-factly, shaking his head, “far more than you can imagine.” He let go of Denzel’s arm, both wrists draping over his knees as he remained crouched, thinking for a moment.
“There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t regret not being there for her at the end,” he glanced back up to the boy, a small reassuring smile tugging at his bearded features, “but I feel better knowing she wasn’t alone — and I know she did too. Ruvie was a strong woman, and she would have felt brave knowing she was taking care of you.” He glanced between the other’s eyes, reaching up and bumping his chin gently with a knuckle and a wink, standing up straight once more.